Something that skyrockets too fast into the national limelight is definitely not immune from misunderstanding. What is even more mystifying is that many an ignorant enthusiast or fan is usually the most guilty of this type of offense. Let’s take the portuguese water dog for example. While it may look like any other house dog, it is far from being a couch warmer; in fact, not much dog breeds can match what it is capable of!

That said, portuguese water dogs really end up out of place in the care of somebody who is too lazy to give these fellows their share of daily work routine, or queue up some “projects” for them to do. But it’s a joy in itself watching the dog process the things assigned to it. Easy to teach with plenty of space for still more learning, the dog grows into a dedicated member of the household. The ideal portie family helps their dog to be well-rounded through activities like water work, flyball, obedience, agility, and more. If you are considering getting a portie pup, you may consider it your hint to look for other dog breeds if you are not up to the demands of a portie owner-lifestyle.

Now, let’s tackle one issue that in one way or another every dog owner will have to answer: does a portie need crate training? The decision actually depends on whatever the dog owner and the dog breeder agree on. There are dogs that feel at home in their very own private space of peace and quiet. In case you as owner are not sure if they need it or not, complement whatever they are busy with through portuguese water dog puppy training.

Porties all over the world adapt to a variety of living conditions. Some dogs do not have crate training. Some dogs have the luxury of sleeping on the bed of their masters. Some owners up the ante by having the dog beds near theirs. Some dogs are very welcome to drape themselves on the family furniture. Something to keep in mind is that it simply is not in the system of the portie to go on sleeping totally alone in a room. Porties are simply and incurably people-oriented dogs.